Zappy Boi Cinematic Analysis and Appreciation Post

Horde players have been in search of a new hero to consider their own since the climax of the War of the Thorns, which resulted in the Burning of Teldrassil. After Saurfang's cinematic, Old Soldier, was released, Horde players were again bolstered with Horde pride, but that is not entirely because of his presence. The troll shaman that interacts with Saurfang through the cinematic called everyone's attention.

The troll, now dubbed Zappy Boi, was very excited about what would be his first battle for the Horde, in stark contrast to Saurfang's melancholy and identity crisis. After meeting with his hero, whom he had heard stories from his dad, a troll named Hekazi that died in the third war, he was met with distraught, but the troll eventually bolstered Saurfang back to his senses, facing the battle ahead of them.

However, did you know that Zappy Boi actually has a name? A short while after Old Soldier was released, Terran Gregory revealed Zappy Boi's name for the World (of Warcraft) to see: Zekhan!

And just like that, Zekhan, partially thanks to the great voice acting from Valence Thomas, was lauded with the general public, not just Horde players.

Previous Zappy Boi Appearances

Zekhan first made an appearance in the Battle for Azeroth Cinematic, quickly becoming a fan-favorite.

Early in Patch 7.3.5 datamining, he showed up in the Seething Shore artwork, but removed at launch. In light of his statement that he's never fought before Lordaeron, this makes sense why he was omitted.

Cinematic Analysis

While fans were quick to meme Zappy Boi and feel inspired by his presence, perhaps there's a darker tone to his presence in the cinematic. (Note - we still love Zappy Boi and think his cheerfulness on its own is endearing.)

At the start of "Old Soldier," Zappy Boi comes up to Saurfang and talks about the great deeds of the Third War. While this seems like a good way to chat with Saurfang and motivate him for the upcoming battle, we learn in A Good War that Saurfang is starting to deeply regret his choices, rethinking his concept of honor. A young idealistic soldier glorifying past deeds he now regrets could have further motivated Saurfang to lay down his armor and desert.

From the final page of A Good War:

The screams continued. They reminded him of Shattrath. He had loved the sound, then.

Smoke filled the air, reminding him of Stormwind, of racing through the streets as buildings burned all around him, finding cowering humans and butchering them as they begged for their lives. He had loved the slaughter, then.

And he had loved this war too, hadn’t he?

Saurfang did not move for hours, not until the screams faded and the flames had burned themselves down to embers. Before him, stood a smoking husk that had once been a great civilization. Inside him was a feeling of despair, a feeling of shame. There was no haze of corruption now to soften the horror.

Zappy Boi's cheerfulness on its own is endearing, but what about in the context of Teldrassil? He says Lordaeron is his first battle, sounding exciting and nervous to fight. He doesn't bring up Teldrassil at all, so perhaps he doesn't know about it. Do you think Sylvanas would tell the Horde that at the last minute, she decided to burn Teldrassil instead of occupying it, since an elf taunted her? Or do you think she instead lied about it, to keep the Horde motivated to fight back?

Sylvanas probably did the latter and Zappy Boi, naive and excited, probably doesn't know any of the events of War of the Thorns. It's sad thinking about how his concept of honor and loyalty is being manipulated by his leader. Readers of the Collector's Edition receive hints that Sylvanas doesn't even view the war on the Alliance as her true purpose; rather there's a larger plan at play the book tantalizingly describes without any further details.

While the interactions between Zappy Boi and Saurfang serve to show the viewer that not all is lost, some bonds of the old Horde remain, this plays out against the backdrop of the war machines for Lordaeron. The atrocity of the World Tree casts a shadow over the cheeriness of Zappy Boi. It's also worth noting that in the Collector's Edition novellas, we learn that trolls lit the fires and shaman escalated the burning through wind spells, so while Zappy Boi may be pure, others of his exact race and class hastened the demise of the World Tree.

We hope Zappy Boi continues to appear in future BFA stories, building upon the touching father/son dynamic shown with Saurfang. Perhaps they'll meet again when Saurfang's story picks up after Stormwind Prison, both knowing a bit more than before. While many players were concerned that Zappy Boi met his demise in the Lordaeron cinematic, it has been pointed out on Twitter that the dead troll doesn't have Zappy Boi's red hair, so he's safe for now!

Comment by Andmyaxe

Comment by kezriel

Comment by Amnestic

Is this analysis really postulating that Sylvanas somehow covered up the world tree being burned down and that Zekhan doesn't know that the Horde burned it?

Really?

It's not a small thing, it wasn't a covert op. The entire Darkshore force military force - a huge army of the Horde - would be carrying that news home. Expecting anyone not to know about it is just ?

Comment by Paraplim

on 2018-08-04T15:55:51-05:00

I see the marketing machine is in full swing? aye.

Comment by Warcsipp

on 2018-08-04T15:58:01-05:00

Thank you Neryssa to share my meme too in this great community. Also thanks for Zappyboi, my faith in the Horde restored. Well played, Blizzard :D

Comment by Keinwortz

on 2018-08-04T16:00:00-05:00

I haven’t seen such a happy character since Geblin Mekkatorque ☺️

Comment by MaximusPM

on 2018-08-04T16:07:05-05:00

He finally got a name. Calling him Zappy Boi is so dumb, poor guy.

Comment by aernath

on 2018-08-04T16:07:41-05:00

Would be nice to credit the meme sources ^^

Comment by Snowy6

on 2018-08-04T16:09:48-05:00

Calling it now Zappi boi is Vol'jin returned from the dead.

Comment by TheMostUnfunny

on 2018-08-04T16:13:41-05:00

If he's anything like Blizzard heroes he will be corrupted within three expansions.

Comment by Dilbo

on 2018-08-04T16:13:55-05:00

Triggered

Comment by AlakeiThancan

on 2018-08-04T16:13:57-05:00

So, I have a theory. Zappy boi wasn't created by chance. If it was just the announcement cinematic, you'd just think "Yeah he's pretty cool". But we've got this, plus the artwork. I'm wondering if he's not possessed by the spirit of Vol'jin, trying to course-correct what he's done with Sylvanas.

Comment by omedon666

on 2018-08-04T16:14:22-05:00

Y’all realize that in this age of shock-and-weep Game of Thrones-like WoW story your love just paints a target on him, right? I mean I love Zappyboi too but I try to be quiet about it because I want him to live!

Comment by AlakeiThancan

on 2018-08-04T16:15:35-05:00

So let's stop pretending they are all "just different" but basically the same under the hood, and stop trying ot make orcs and trolls appear to human when they are archetypal monsters.

Orcs and trolls haven't been archetypal monsters since Warcraft 3.

Comment by VDK821

on 2018-08-04T16:17:13-05:00

I have never been prouder of the horde than when I saw the old soldier cinematic